Roberts, Matusz lead O's in win over Yanks

SARASOTA, Fla. -- In a rematch of last year's American League Division Series, the Orioles topped the Yankees, 5-1, on Monday afternoon, improving to 3-0 this Grapefruit League season.

Baltimore's Brian Roberts doubled in each of his first two at-bats, picking up his first hits of the spring, and scored a pair of runs to stake the O's to an early 2-0 lead. Nick Markakis drove in Roberts with an RBI single off Yankees lefty Bryan Mitchell in the third, with Adam Jones doubling Roberts in for a first-inning score.

Yankees starter Vidal Nuno struck out five and allowed a run over two innings of work, while Orioles lefty Brian Matusz -- who is vying for a rotation spot -- turned in a scoreless two-inning outing. Matusz allowed a pair of singles to start the game and retired the next five batters in a 30-pitch spring debut.

Of the two hits, one was an infield single that speedy Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner beat out after Chris Davis made a great stop at first base and relayed the throw to Matusz.

"It was nice to get out there and get the first one out of the way, kind of get in the rhythm again," said Matusz, who was used out of the bullpen for the Orioles down the stretch last year. "It's been a while since I've been a starter. It's nice to work on the routine again and try to find that. Out there on the mound, working well with [Matt] Wieters and the group, establishing the fastball. Threw some changeups, got a couple of ground balls out of it. ... It was a nice first start. Good to have something to go off of now."

Gardner had three hits, while Jayson Nix added a first-inning single off Matusz and a hit off Orioles lefty Mark Hendrickson in the fifth.

Matt Diaz and Juan Rivera, who are competing for the left-field job with Curtis Granderson's injury, both went hitless.

Orioles outfielder Nate McLouth hit a two-run double in the fourth inning, scoring Conor Jackson and Manny Machado, off New York's Corey Black. Russ Canzler singled home Trayvon Robinson to give the O's a five-run cushion in the sixth.

Walter Ibarra singled home Corban Joseph with two outs in the ninth to plate New York's lone run.

Up next: Baltimore will travel to Bradenton, Fla., to take on the Pirates for the first time this spring. Chris Tillman will make his second start, opposite Pirates lefty Wandy Rodriguez in a 1:05 p.m. ET matchup at McKechnie Field. Todd Remond, Steve Johnson and Dylan Bundy are also slated to pitch for Baltimore.